Political History Of Ancient India

SR No.: 032292
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemchandra Raychaudhari
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 714
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 204

CHECKS ON ROYAL AUTHORITY 175 Āruneyah Panchālānām : Samitim eyāya ; tam ha Pravāhano Jaivalir uvācha.” The Brihadāranyaka Upanishad' uses the term Parishad instead of Samiti, “svetaketur hoa vā Āruneyah Panchālānāri Parishadamājagāma." The analogy of the Lichchhavi Parisha and of similar assemblies mentioned in Buddhist works shows that the functions of the Kuru and Pañchāla Parishads were not necessarily confined to philosophical discussions only. The Jaiminīya Upanishad Brāhmana? refers to disputations (samvāda) and witnesses (upa- . drashtri) in connection with popular assemblies, and informs us that the procedure among the Kurus and the Pañchalas was different from that of Śūdras. The people took part in the ceremony of royal inauguration.3 The Dummedha Jātaka * refers to a joint assembly of ministers, Brāhmaṇas, the gentry, and the other orders of the people.
That the people actually put a curb on royal absolutism is proved by the testimony of the AtharvaVeda“ where it is stated that concord between king and assembly was essential for the former's prosperity. We have evidence that the people sometimes expelled and even executed their princes together with unpopular officials. Thus it is stated in the Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, "Now Dush-tarītu Paumsāyang had been expelled from the kingdom which had come to him through ten generations, and the Sriñjayas also expelled Revottaras Pāțavá
i VI. 2. 1. 2 111. 7. 6. 3 Ait. Br., VIII. 17.
4 No. 50 ; cf. Vessantara sātaka (No. 547), Vol. VI, pp. 490 ff. The whole Sivi people assembled to discuss a matter of public importance, to give advice to the King and to inflict punishment on a prince.
5 VI. 88. 3. 6 XII. 9. 3. 1 et seq. ; Eggeling, V. 269.